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Blackbead Pithecellobium guadalupense
Blackbead is found in coastal uplands throughout South Florida, the Keys, the
Caribbean and Tropical America. It is a tough, multi-stem shrub, or
small tree (15'-20' typical mature height range).
Salt- and
drought-tolerant, it has multiple uses in naturalized landscaping
situations.
Plant one in a conspicuous place, to show off the pink, fragrant
flowers. You can leave it as a shrub, or trim it into a small
tree.
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From January to April, and again from September to December,
it becomes covered with clusters of puffy flowers, about an inch in
diameter. |
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Their sweet fragrance causes you to stop what you are
doing and inhale deeply. You smile and say, "Mmmmmm. Aaaaaah."
Butterflies and other pollinators are right beside you, mmm-ing and
aah-ing as well. |
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Seed pods, 2"-4" in length, develop from the flowers. The pods split
open and the seeds spring out, attached to red arils. Birds enjoy
the arils, which are sweet when ripe. |
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The name of this plant describes the seeds, which were
traditionally used to make jewelry. |
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Branches are dark and twisty, if you care to venture inside
the canopy. |
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Allow it to
interact with your other native screening plants to form a thicket. Your
neighbors will no longer be able to peer through to see what you are
doing. |
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At left, naturalized landscape using blackbead.
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3-gal. plants, about 24" high.
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Plant Creations
305-248-8147
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